Rawlings Baseball Glove Repair: Replacing Edge Binding and Rebuilding the Thumb Loop

When it comes to baseball glove repairs, some jobs test both your patience and your craftsmanship — and this recent project was no exception. This glove came in with cracked edge binding and a severely worn-out padded thumb loop, both of which required serious attention to detail and experience in glove reconstruction.

The Glove: A Trusted Rawlings in Need of Repair

This well-worn Rawlings glove had clearly seen years of field time. The edge binding had cracked and frayed, and the padded thumb loop, one of the most overlooked but essential pieces of glove comfort, was in rough shape.

The thumb loop is where your thumb anchors into the glove. When it’s deteriorated, it affects fit, feel, and confidence in the glove. In this case, Rawlings originally used a thick sheepskin material, which over time had become compressed, cracked, and unusable.

The Repair Process: Edge Binding Replacement

First, I stripped out the cracked edge binding and carefully prepped the glove for replacement. I custom cut new binding from high-quality full grain baseball glove leather, selected for its durability and feel.

The replacement binding was stitched with industrial-strength TEX-135 nylon thread, using the same machines trusted by glove manufacturers. Every stitch was placed with precision to ensure the binding would hold up through game after game.

Rebuilding the Thumb Loop: The Real Challenge

The real beast of this project? Rebuilding the padded thumb loop.

Most people don’t realize how much structure and detail go into this small component. The original sheepskin padding was completely shot, so I replaced it with a hand-cut, full grain leather loop, layered and padded to match the glove’s original profile — only stronger.

This isn't a basic relace job. Rebuilding a thumb loop means deconstructing the inner pocket area of the glove, reconstructing internal padding, and resewing it so the glove feels right again. This is where deep leather knowledge and glove anatomy come into play.

Why Full Grain Leather?

Unlike sheepskin, full grain glove leather holds its shape, breaks in better, and lasts longer. It’s more resistant to moisture and compression — perfect for something as high-wear as a thumb loop.

By using glove-grade full grain leather, I was able to give this glove a more durable and comfortable thumb loop that should outlast the original material.